The Schwartz Report

Microsoft Stores Sell Samsung's New Android Phone

A Microsoft Store might not be the first place one might look for an Android phone but the company's retail locations are taking orders for the new Samsung Galaxy S8, launched last week.

Even as Microsoft stores already sell other competitive devices, such as the Facebook Oculus virtual reality headsets, and the company itself now supports Apple's iOS and Android in numerous ways, the idea of it now selling an Android phone -- and one from the largest supplier -- is somewhat striking.

Certainly, it's not remarkable considering Microsoft's support of other platforms and that Samsung has offered Microsoft apps on its previous phones the Galaxy S6 and S7 (the latter was removed from the market last year after some started catching fire). Indeed, 11 device manufacturers agreed to preinstall Office on their Android devices more than two years ago.

In addition to Office, The Samsung Galaxy S8 Microsoft Edition can be customized with OneDrive, Cortana and Outlook, among other Microsoft offerings. Presuming Samsung has resolved the issues that led to the company having to take the Galaxy S7 off the market, the S8 is expected to be a hit, considering Android is the most widely used mobile platform and the company has the most popular Android-based phone.

The Galaxy S8, which will offer improved video recording and rendering and introduce new biometric authentication options, is the first to use Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 835, which ultimately will introduce support for new high-speed Gigabit LTE-class connectivity that carriers are expected to roll out later this year (here's a listing of specs).

Microsoft is only selling the new phones in its stores, not online. They're due to arrive April 21.